AR 600-38 — The Meal Entitlement Management System
AR 600-38 governs meal entitlement authorization, accountability, identification, reimbursement, verification, and related training meal programs.
- Publication number: AR 600-38
- Title: THE MEAL ENTITLEMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
- Date: 11/01/2023
- Proponent: G-1
- Status: ACTIVE
View AR 600-38 on armypubs.army.mil
AR 600-38 covers Meal Entitlement Codes on Common Access Cards, field meals, the Meal Entitlement Maintenance system, and Institutional Training Directed Lodging and Meals. It requires controls for authorizing, withdrawing, collecting payment for, verifying, and reviewing meal entitlements.
Applies to: The requirement for the annual review of the MEM system applies to all units using point-of-sales devices.
Topics covered
- Meal Entitlement Codes
- Common Access Cards
- Field meal reimbursement
- Meal entitlement verification
- Institutional training meals
- Point-of-sale transactions
Questions and answers
What does AR 600-38 require Soldiers receiving BAS to pay for?
Soldiers receiving basic allowance for subsistence (BAS) must pay for all meals or rations received from a Government mess or provided on behalf of the Government except when a patient is in a hospital. (paragraph 1-8)
How are meals made available during field duty treated?
Meals (rations) made available during field duty will be considered as meals furnished, regardless of whether eaten or not. (paragraph 1-8)
How are field meal reimbursements collected?
Reimbursement for all meals available to field duty, field operations, or field training participants will take place through pay-account collections by Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). (paragraph 1-8)
What do Meal Entitlement Codes on CACs identify?
The MECs on CACs identify the assigned or attached military members who will pay for their meal in cash at the DFAC or through mandatory payroll deduction. (paragraph 2-2)
Are Basic Trainees authorized BAS under AR 600-38?
If a member is a Basic Trainee and has no prior military service, then the Soldier is not authorized BAS and is subsisted in kind. (paragraph 2-2)